Evett’s Model Shop

New to modelling, and have been spending about a year working on my first kit and learning all about the art. My biggest issue is that supplies are hard to come by and ordering from amazon/​ebay often takes months for products to arrive from overseas.
This is most certainly the best one-​stop shop for scale model supplies in the greater LA area (there is a nice shop in Burbank, but who wants to drive to Burbank haha!), all other shops like hobby people absolutely pale in comparison. Their kit selection is respectable, and Gene (the guy behind the counter) even went so far as to note the models I was looking for. It seems if that they don’t have what you need they can get it for you.
On top of that this was my first time speaking to someone so knowledgeable about the craft of scale modelling, and I could’ve been in the store for hours just shooting the sh*t with Gene and fellow customers if I didn’t have to get back to work!
If you enjoy scale modelling of any sort (cars, armor, aircraft, fantasy) I would bet Gene can give you advice on just about anything; from what types of kits to get, to what tools and supplies are needed to construct, paint, and finish the model.
Evett’s Model Shop is a fantastic hobby/​scale model store to visit; if not for the plethora of supplies, tools, and kits then absolutely for the knowledge and conversation that an employee like Gene can provide.
The only downside for a working person is that their weekday hours are only from 10 – 5:30, so it might be hard to find the time to visit M-​F. I foresee hours spent at this store over the weekends.

Love this place! Grew up buying my models from Mr. Evette and went to school with his daughter. Knowledgable staff, very friendly. Mrs. Evette is the best! Wide selection of all kinds of items. This is the place to shop!

Last of the true hobby shops. Staffed by extremely knowledgeable RC and plastic modelers. If you don’t see it they can get it in no time. Great stock of new and vintage kits, RC aircraft and accessories, tools, paint.
They even let you behind the counter to shop. Everything for age 4 to 70. A true gem, last of the independents and better than the net by far.
Pay them a visit especially with your kids.

This place epitomizes everything that is great and wonderful about models and childhood. It reminds me of my uncle’s basement where I would spend hours in utter amazement at his collection of models.

Evett’s Model Shop is AWESOME. The owner came to the store early on a Saturday to open the store to accommodate me when I needed some pinewood derby cars ASAP. This store is awesome. The original owner passed away but his wife runs the place now. The original owner, Colby Evett, was a former Boeing executive who use to work at the airport before it went mostly private. When I grew up as a kid, you went to two stores, one for Hobby Trains, and Evett’s for all other things (off road R/​C cars, airplanes, die cast models, derby cars, etc.). They have all the supplies and the people to help. This is a gem in Santa Monica and I hope they stick around.
About Colby — Colby Evett owned and operated Evett’s Model Shop on Ocean Park Boulevard in Santa Monica. The store, which celebrated its 65^th anniversary in January, is popular with hobbyists and Evett was well known in the world of model planes. Evett died February 16. Santa Monica Patch,
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IF YOU WANT YOUR KID TO STOP PLAYING WITH IPADS AND VIDEO GAMES…
Take him to this store and show him how he can build his own R/​C stuff. Engage the curious nature of boys and girls and they will put the iPads down… I promise. My 7 yo loves this store. We are still doing wooden pinewood derby cars, but will be moving into more hobby R/​Cs soon (more than just the crappy $ 10 – 15 R/​C cars from the toy store), ones you build yourself and race your friends.
I WISH… some MBAs with some extra time could find a way to improve the business model to help this store find a more online presence. The funny thing about model shops is that if they can create a following and interest in the hobby, hobby enthusiasts will buy only from their local shop so they have a place to call home (vs. Internet/​cost savings). The extra $$$ is worth the value of the store.

This is a gem to be able to still buy those out of production models of the past. They even have the current models that are in production. I love it. Planes, boats cars, tanks and so on and so forth (check photo)

This model shop has all kinds of supplies! And the shop owner is also a professional model builder! Awesome place!

I can not heap enough praise on Evetts Model Shop and especially Gene.
While moving, my Kotobukyia Hulk statue sustained a bit of damage on his hand, and me, being far too nit-​picky, wanted to get it repaired. I was referred to Gene, and while he professes his specialty is the model car (he actually did the Jurassic Park car other cover of Model Car Magazine issue #193), the loving care he took with my Hulk was appreciated. He knew it was nit-​picky but also knows that that is what the hobby is all about.
After a quick turnaround, he had Hulk ready to go and looking flawless. I’m very happy indeed.
They also have some mouth watering cookies available the Times I went it.
I’m telling you now, if you want something model related, paint, a kit, advice, whatever. you would do yourself a terrible disservice to not visit this store.
Thanks again!

Simply the best model shop around. The best staff (Luke, Gene, and Yvonne), and the best stuff either new or hard to find. And if they don’t have it just ask them to order it and it’s there a few days later. Is it a little more than what you might spend online –yeah — but who cares when you can have a great experience with knowledgable staff that lives what they do. Just come to hang out and talk shop too. Couldn’t recommend this more!

Awesome, old-​school shop with knowledgable, enthusiastic staff. This is what I remember from my pre-​web youth. I’d been to another well ranked shop earlier the same day looking for a few sizes of DU-​BRO model aircraft wheels with matching axle rod, washers and collars. There was a small, spotty selection of wheels but I got skunked on hardware. I’d never been to Evett’s, but it was close work and well rated so why not…
Evett’s is small. I wore my usual «just looking» face while scanning the place for wheels but didn’t see much. Luke cheerfully asked if he could help me find anything. When I told him, he pulled two whole boxes full of wheels from beneath the counter. Everything I was looking for. As we talked about my project, he offered a few great build ideas I hadn’t thought of. I’m usually the last guy to appreciate design advice. But Luke knows his stuff and presented options in a very open, respectful way. I walked out with exactly what I wanted and more ideas and enthusiasm than I went in with.
This trip was for middle aged me — feeling 13 again. But if I had a kid who’d never been to a shop like this, I’d take them regularly with no damned phone in their hands. Passionate, experienced customer service for niche markets like this is an endangered species. I’ll be back Evett’s. Maybe next time to find a new project. Just because.

So yesterday was my first time at this place. I recently started getting back into building model cars and I have to say that this is by far the best place to buy kits in the Los Angeles area. You don’t get the «hurry up and choose your paints» look at this place like you would at those chain stores. Gene is the guy to talk to if you’re interested in building models he has a lot of knowledge and is also an award winning model builder. He gave me some tips on how to make my models stand out more. Overall this is a great old school mom and pop spot they have a great selection of paints, models and everything else you can think of. Thank you Gene for the pointers I will definitely be coming back.

Oh how I love it here. So old school and down to earth. It was a little rough going when Colby was sick and that being at the depths of the recession. I really only went in for some Mamiya Tape and Zap but on those times back then I bought models which I knew would sit on the «to be built» shelf for a long time because I wanted to help them out. The last couple of times I was there, the place was cleaner, better, lit and better stocked. There are a couple of new guys working who aren’t complete dill wholes like so much of the staff at allied models. An establishment that lies a mere four blocks from my home and one which I routinely bypass to get even small supplies at Evett’s. Another neat thing is that because they’ve been in business so long, you frequently find long discontinued products still on the shelves and usually at the original price.
One note: It’s a hobby shop not a toy store even though there some items for the little ones. The main thing to remember is it’s a store for enthusiasts. If you want a cheap, throw away RC, go to the mall.
Extras points for still carrying wooden ship models.
On affection for the vibe and the people, 6 stars.
Rationally, the stores a little small, just a tad disorganized and SOMETIMES the paint stock get’s a little picked over with too many empty racks, 4 stars.
That averages out to 5 happily granted stars.

Great store. Went in a while back to get some specialty paints. I brought my daughter and had a great time pointing out this-​and-​that. Very nostalgic, a lot of stuff we’ll have to try, and the staff was friendly and helpful.

I love model rockets. I like to build ‘em. I love to fly ‘em. It’s hilarious to tie little green army men to my parachute so when the nose cone separates from the propulsion system, the sky rains toys. Yeah… I’m a nerd. I LOVE this shop because it carries all of the engines and stuff needed to have a dope day of model rocketry. I think they still carry the Estes alpha kits, too. Might need to stop by and pick up some stuff because I haven’t had a fly day in quite some time.

I’m giving this place 5 stars because this place is just pure nostalgia for me. This was what hobby shops were like in the last century. There were many in my youth. Places like Reginald Denny’s in Hollywood, Tony and Addy’s in Burbank, the Model Shop on 6^th street, and many more would provide an outlet for those who want to learn, build, and fly model airplanes. They’re nearly all gone now except for Evett’s.
I was at Evett’s this past week looking for certain colors of Monekote, a plastic iron-​on covering for my latest airplane model I’m building. They didn’t have the colors I needed but the salesman offered to order it. That’s a nice service.
I was there the week before looking for balsa wood. They kindly let me peruse through their stock. They had Sig and Bud Nosen balsa. Some really nice light wood can be found here for those who like to scratch build. They have some hard to find hardware for those who still build.

Looks like a cool place. Not wheelchair friendly though.

On the 23^rd of December, it was almost 6 pm when my friend visiting from out of town decided he wanted to buy a toy drone helicopter. I said to him, «it’s LA, we can find anything here» and after going on Unilocal and finding Evett’s Model Shop, they not only had what we were looking for but were willing to stay open for us to battle LA traffic and get what we wanted a day before Christmas. This place is amazing for sure and I highly recommend at least stopping by to see one of the coolest toy stores on the westside.

I was very saddned to hear about Mr Evett’s passing.
I use to come here as a child… every week on thurs, my allowence day, I’d come in and buy a Matchbox car. Later I got into buidling plastic models planes. I bougtht many Revell and Monogram model planes there.
I was never an RC guy but I enjoied watching people fly RC palnes.
I’m 47 now and still live in the area. Every time I walk by Evett’s it makes me think of my childhood.
I hope the shop is able to continue… RIP Mr Evett

UPDATE
Colby Evett, a pioneer of radio controlled airplanes who ran Evett’s Model Shop – one of the last remaining model shops on the Westside – on Ocean Park Boulevard for 65 years, has died.
The longtime Santa Monica resident was 92.
Evett has said he always loved planes, but was reportedly unable to fly them himself because of poor vision.
Born March 9 in South Carolina, he worked for McDonnell-​Douglas aircraft, which was based in Santa Monica, before serving in the Navy from 1944 – 46. Then in January 1948, he opened the model shop with his first wife.
It was there that he shared his passion with children and other model builders. In the 1950s, he put in money to construct an airstrip in Van Nuys. He also built models for Hollywood movies and commercials, according to LAist.
Evett spent five years developing a radio system for model airplanes, but never secured a patent for his invention – the first multi-​toned transmitter and receiver that «allows an RC-​controlled vehicle to conduct more than one function at a time,» according to the Santa Monica LookOut.
That makes Mr. Evett the Elvis of the RC hobby. He is swarmed at every RC conference he attends, and has been the focus of many national and international magazines.
Today, model war planes, some built by Evett himself, hang from the shop’s ceilings. Balsa wood of varying shapes and sizes, along with paints, glues, brushes, and other crafts, tools and toys are nestled on the shelves.
Customers says the shop reminds them of the kind they visited as children. Evett continued to work there daily until shortly before his death Feb. 16.
«I feel like I had a real good life doing what I wanted to do, so get out and do some work – it’s good for ya,» he says in a short documentary, «Colby And His Planes.»
Friends and family will help Evett’s second wife, Yvonne, keep the store open.
«I’ll never be able to fill his shoes,» she said. But «he said, ‘you can either sit there or you can sit at home.’»
Click to see a great video of him.

In 1948, Colby Evett opened Evett’s Model Shop, on Ocean Park Blvd. in Santa Monica. Now, it stands as the oldest model shop in West Los Angeles, still managed by Colby and his lovely wife, Yvonne. I was lucky enough to stumble upon Evett’s years ago, as a young child, and today, almost 20 years later, this lovely hobby shop is no different than the day it opened in 1948.
Affordable prices. Yes, it’s true… I went on the Testor paint website (along with a few others) and Evett’s sells its paints cheaper than the factory website. Models are diverse and numerous. As Colby would say, «Feel free to get back behind the counter and get ‘yer hands on what ya like.»
If you need advice, both Yvonne and Colby know their models inside and out. R.C. airplanes? Sure. Trains? No prob. Model cars and airplanes? Done and done. This adorable couple knows their store and products better than most of us know ourselves, and they love to dole out advice, when asked. Take advantage of their extensive knowledge. :)
This is such a perfect little shop, frozen in time, and home to everyone who walks through the door. Evett’s makes me feel like a little kid again, and I delight in every visit I make to this beloved establishment; a truly proud piece of Santa Monica history. Two thumbs up!